Sewing machine ruffler



Feb. 28, 1939. 4 ICH ET AL 2,148,878

SEWING MACHINE RUFFLER Filed Sept. 10, 1937 2 Sheqts-Sheet l y; 65 43 Iy t". 4'3 5 I 68 I j] 4 50 g I)! v 016% Rafi J3 I 7202M IA k x 2w wzdFeb. 28, 1939. o. RICH ET AL SEWING MACHINE RUFFLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Sept. 10, 1937 Patented Feb. 28, 1939 PATENT OFFICE SEWING MACHINERUFFLER Odella Rich and Thomas J. Rich, Jr., Chicago, 111.

Application September 10, 1937, Serial No. 163,222

12 Claims.

This invention relates to rufflers'of the type commonly used for sewingmachines for forming ruflles', 'pleats, waving, or shirring, and isparticu larly directed to means for adjusting the same and also to meanswhereby the operation may be changed from ruffling to plain sewing orvice versa. Heretofore means have been provided for adjusting the lengthof the ruffie by adjusting the 'stroke of the ruiiling blade but suchmeans have usually required the stopping of the machine and 'thediffe'rences in the stroke of the blade have usually been more orless'arbitrary. In accordance'with the present invention we providemeans "whereby the length of the stroke or length of ruffle may beadjusted while the machine is in motion at any rate'of speed or whilestanding still andmayals'o be adjusted through any desired 'rangeofsteps or variation. Furthermore we provide means whereby the changing ofthe operation from rufiiing to plain sewing may be done in "a convenientand feasible manner and such "changes may be made automatically, ifdesired, while the machine is in operation.

The objects of this invention are to provide "means of a simple andeflicicnt character for performing the operations noted and to providemeans which maybe readily attached to any ordinary or power sewingmachine in a convenient manner;'to provide a ruffler which may beadjusted forlength of ruiile, either by hand or by foot'or p'edaloperated means; to provide means for adjusting the throw of the millerblade through an infinite number of ranges of operation; to provide anovel stroke or feed adjusting ,mechanism; and to provide such othernovel features incon'struction'and improvements in operation as willappear more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention,

"Figure *1; is a front view of a'sewing machine showingthe ruffierapplied thereto;

Figure'Z is a side view of the rufiler;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the same;

I Figure; is a sectional view taken on the line i l of Figure 3; v

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line --5 of Figure4;

v Figure 6 is a detail of the adjusting mechanism with parts broken awayto show the interior construction;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken substantially "on the line 'l-1 ofFigure 6, but showing the spring-pressed detent out of engagingposition; and

Figure 8 is a "plunger.

1 As shown in'these drawings, l8 represents gendetail of the strokeadjusting *rau a" sewing machine of either domestic or commercial formhaving the usual presser-bar *andvertically reciprocating needle bar.Our imb'earing may swing freely has a beveled or tapered end 30.

operating lever and the proved ruffler has a frame H which may besecured to the presser-bar in the usual manner,

having a bracket l2 which is adapted to fit over the bar and be attachedthereto by means of a screw or the like. The frame has a substantiallyhorizontal separator blade l3 which may be atl tached thereto but ispreferably made integrally therewith as shown.

A lever or pusher arm i4 is pivotally mounted. in the main frame bymeans of a pivot or screw I5 and is bifurcated at its lower end forpivotal engagement at "5 with the pusher or carrier I! to which theruffling blade I8 is attached as by means of screws Hi. The pusher orcarrier I1 is guided by means of a pin or screw 20 in the main framewhich engages with a slot 2| in the carrier as shown in Figure 2. g

The pusher arm 14 is actuated by an operating lever or arm 22 which ispivoted on the screw l5 and which is preferably forked as shown at 23for attachment to the needle bar in the usual manner. The operatinglever 22 is of the bellcrank type having one arm 24 provided with a hookwhich engages with a pin 25 on the pusher arm M for moving or swingingthe arm in one direction. I H I 'The pusher arm M has a short tube orbearing 26 secured thereto or formed integrally therewith which projectsrearwardly as shown in Figure 2, through a slot or opening 21 in themain frame, which opening is arranged circumferentially with respect tothe pivot 15 so that the therein. The bearing has a longitudinal hole orbore 28 of rectangular cross section to receive a stroke adjustingplunger 29 which is slidably mounted therein and which The taperedprojected end 30 of this plunger is adapted to be 22 and within the pathof the operating lever serves as the medium through which theleveractuates or moves the pusher arm l4 in order to retract the ruffierblade. The beveled surface or end of this plunger is engaged by the sideof the operating lever 22 so that the stroke of the pusher arm may beadjusted by moving the plunger 29 longitudinally in its socket wherebythe end thereof will be engaged sooner or later by the stroke of theblade may be adjusted for any desired movement. The plunger 29 may beadjusted longitudinally in its bearing by any suitable means but in thepresent arrangement is provided with a head 3! which is engaged by aspring 32 for retracting or moving the plunger for shorter ruffiingstrokes or to inoperative position. The opposite end of the springengages with a washer 33 which rests against the face of the framemember or plate flange that fits in a stationary housing or cylinder 36that is rigidly secured to the frame H as by means of integrally formedprojections or rivets 31 that extend through slots in the frame and areheaded or riveted over to hold the housing in position. The flange 35has two oppositely disposed outwardly projecting pins 33 which engagewith cam slots 39 in the housing or drum 33. The pins 38 are actuated ormoved inwardly and outwardly by means of a rotatable sleeve 45 which ismounted on the cylinder or housing 36 and is held against movement inone direction by means of a flange 4| extending outwardly from thehousing. The sleeve is provided with diagonal cam slots 42 which engagewith the pins 38 and cause the pins to be moved in the slots 39relatively lengthwise of the housing when the sleeve is rotated, thuscausing the cap or disc 34 to move inwardly for adjusting the plunger29. The sleeve 40 may be turned in any convenient manner as by means ofradial pins or arms 43 which may be engaged by the fingers of theoperator and turned to adjust the stroke when the machine is either inoperation or standing still. The sleeve may also be adjusted by means ofa foot operated pedal or arm 44 which may be con-' nected with thesleeve by means of a rod 45 or in any suitable manner whereby the sleevemay be rotated to adjust the throw by means of the foot,

thus leaving the hands free for other purposes.

It is often desirable to form a certain number or length of ruflles andthen change to plain sewing. Our invention provides means whereby themilling operation may be automatically stopped after a predeterminedlength of rufliing or shirring has been made which is accomplished bythe following particular mechanism.

An adjusting washer 46 is rotatably mounted on the barrel 33 next to theframe plate II and has a projecting thumb-piece or arm 47 for rotatablyadjusting the same. This arm has a spring detent 48 which engages withnotches 49 on the peripheral portion of the frame II for holding thering in adjusted position. The length of the rufiling or pleating, ornumber of pleating operations; is determined by the position of suchWasher. The length of the ruflling or pleating can be adjusted fromabout four to any desired number of stitches. An operating or outerratchet ring is mounted next to the ring 46 as shown in Figure 3. Therings 45 and 50 are provided respectively with inwardly extending lugsor projections 5| and 52 which are connected by a tension spring 53 asshown in Figure 4, this spring tending to return the operating or outerratchet ring 50 to normal position. The ring 50 has a bracket 54 whichextends forwardly over the frame and is provided with a roller 55 thatlies within the path of the operating lever 22 as shown in Figures 2 and3, the arrangement being such that when the operating lever is vibratedit tends to move the roller 55 and parts connected therewithapredetermined distance in a clockwise direction at each upward movementof the lever.

The rotative movement of the outer ratchet ring 55 is transmitted to aninner ratchet ring 56 by means of any suitable ratchet mechanism such asthe ball ratchet shown. The ring 56 has an annular shouldered portion orflange 51 which fits within a flange 58 on the ring 50. Cam or clutchgrooves 59 are provided around the outer periphery of the flange 51 andclutch balls Gil are positioned in the grooves, the arrangement beingsuch that they tend to turn the inner ratchet ring 56 in a clockwisedirection as shown in Figure 2. In order to prevent the reverse orreturn movement of the inner ratchet ring we provide cam or clutchgrooves (on the inside of the flange or shouldered portion 51 havingballs 6| a which coact with the outer surface of the sleeve 45 to holdthe inner ratchet ring in its adjusted positions.

The rim or outer periphery of the inner ratchet ring 55 extends into aslot or opening 62 in one side of a hearing or hollow projection 63which is secured in the frame H as shown in Figure 7. The ring 55 has abeveled or cam shaped projection 54 which is adapted to engage at timeswith a detent or ratchet member 65 which is slidably mounted in thebearing 63and which is of angular cross sectionto prevent its rotatingin the bearing. The detent 55 is urged outwardly by means of acompression spring 55 which is interposed between the detent and bottomof the bearing as shown in Figure 6. The sharpened end of the detentengages with teeth 6! which are arranged radially on the face of asegment 68 that extends outwardly from the sleeve 40. The sleeve 45,preferably has an outwardly extending flange at its inner end to providea thrust bearing for the inner ratchet ring 55. If desired a pin or thelike 59 may be provided to prevent the detent 65 from beinginadvertently ejected from the bearing by the spring 65.

When this automatic feature is to be used the operator sets theadjusting washer 46 by means of the thumb-piece 4'! to any predeterminedposition which adjusts the outer ratchet ring 50 through the medium ofthe spring 53. The sleeve 45 is then adjusted for the desired length ofruffle and the sewing and ruining proceeds in the usual manner. At eachmovement of the lever 22 the outer ratchet ring 50 is rotated in a stepby step movement by the roller 55. This step by step movement istransmitted to the inner ratchet ring 56 through the ball clutchmechanism and is gradually rotated until the lug or projection 64engages with the spring-pressed detent 65 and draws it out of engagementwith the teeth 61 as shown in Figure 7. As soon as this pin or detent isreleased it releases the rufile adjustment and permits the sleeve 45 toreturn to normal position through the action of the spring 32. Thiswithdraws the end of the plunger 29 from engagement with the lever 22 sothat further movement of the lever does not actuate the rufiler butpermits the plain sewing to continue.

From this description it will be seen that we provide an efiicient andcompact mechanism for performing the objects set forth which may be madeof any desired size and of any suitable material. In the drawings otherthan Figure 1, the parts are shown on a considerably larger scale thanthe size adapted for an ordinary sewing machine.

It will also be noted that changes may bemade movement from theoperating lever to the driven arm, and means for adjusting the plunger.

2. The combination with a sewing machine rufller having a pusher arm andan operating lever, of stroke adjusting means comprising a plungerslidably mounted in the pusher arm and having: a tapered portion whichis engaged by the operating lever to swing the pusher arm, and means formanually adjusting the plunger longitudinally whereby the movement ofthe pusher arm may be varied.

3. The combination with a sewing machine rufiler including a pusher armand an operating lever, of stroke adjusting means comprising a plungerslidably mounted in the pusher arm and having a beveled portion to beengaged by the operating lever for swinging the pusher arm, a springtending to move the plunger out of operative position and manuallyoperable means for moving the plunger toward operative position, saidmeans being adapted to be actuated when the miller is in operation orstanding still.

4. Adjusting means for adjusting the stroke of a tucker having a pusherarm and having an operating lever for vibrating said arm, comprising aplunger slidably mounted in the pusher arm and engageable by theoperating lever for moving the arm in one direction, said plunger havinga beveled surface whereby the movement of the arm may be adjusted, aspring tending to hold the plunger in inoperative position, manuallyoperable means for adjusting the plunger to operating positions, andmeans for automatically releasing the last-named means to permit theplunger to return to inoperative position.

5. In a sewing machine tucker, the combination of a frame, a pusher armpivotally mounted on the frame, tucking or pleating means actuated bythe pusher arm, an operating lever pivoted on the pusher arm pivot andhaving a projection, a pin on the pusher arm which is engaged by theprojection to move the arm in one direction, a bearing on the pusher armextending through a slot in the frame, a rectangular plunger mounted inthe bearing and having a beveled portion for engagement with theoperating lever to move the pusher arm in one direction, a springcoacting with the frame and plunger tending to hold the plunger ininoperative position, a barrel secured to the frame and enclosing saidplunger and bearing, a cap slidably mounted in the barrel and engagingwith said plunger, cam means for adjusting the cap longitudinally of thebarrel to move the plunger into operative positions, and a detent forholding the cam means in adjusted position.

6. The combination with a sewing machine ruffler, having a drivingmember and a driven member for actuating the ruffler blade, ofadjustable means adapted to be 'set to cause the driving member toactuate the driven member a predetermined number of times and then toautomatically disengage the driving member after the driven member hasbeen actuated said predetermined number of times.

'7. The combination with a ruilling device of the character set forth,of means for adjusting the length of the ruflle and adjustable meansadapted to be set to cause the rufiier to be operated a predeterminednumber of times and then to automatically change the operation fromruffling to plain sewing.

8. In a sewing machine ruffler, in combination, a frame adapted to beattached to the machine, a pusher arm pivotally mounted on the frame, a

ruffiing blade coacting with the pusher arm, an operating leverpivotally mounted on the frame and having one end formed for engagementwith the needle bar of the sewing machine, an arm on the lever, a pin onthe pusher arm which is engaged by the lever arm for moving the pusherarm in one direction, a bearing carried by the pusher arm extendingthrough a slot in the frame, a plunger slidably mounted in the bearingand adapted to be interposed within the path of the operating lever tomove the pusher arm in the opposite direction, said plunger having abeveled engaging portion whereby the stroke may be varied, a barrelprojecting from the frame and enclosing said bearing, a cap slidablymounted in the bearing, a sleeve engaging with the barrel, means forholding the sleeve against longitudinal movement, pins secured to thecap and projecting through cam slots in the barrel and in the sleeve,means for rotating the sleeve to adjust the cap longitudinally of thebarrel, a circumferential toothed segment projecting from the sleeve, aspring-pressed detent mounted in the frame and engaging with said teeth,an adjustable washer mounted on the barrel adjacent to the frame, meansfor holding the washer in adjusted position, a rotatable ratchet ringmounted adjacent to the washer, yielding means connecting the adjustingwasher and said ring, whereby the ring will be returned to normalposition, means projecting from the ratchet ring within the path of theoperating lever whereby the ring will be moved a predetermined distancefor each movement of the lever, a second ratchet ring mounted adjacentto the first-named ratchet ring, ratchet means for moving thesecond-named ring in one direction when the first-named ring isactuated, and a projection onthe last-named ring which engages with thespring-pressed detent to release the same when the second-named ratchetring has been actuated a predetermined number of times, the arrangementbeing such that the plunger will return to normal position under theaction of the spring when said detent is released.

9. A device as per claim 8 in which the sleeve is provided with pedaloperating means for adjusting the same.

10. A device as per claim 8 in which the sleeve is provided with thumbpieces for rotating the same.

11. A new mechanical movement for giving a variable stroke, comprising adriving member and a driven member, and a coacting member interposedbetween said driving and driven members for varying the movement of thedriven member, said coacting member comprising a longitudinally movableslide having a tapered end for coaction with the driving member andbeing yieldably pressed in one direction and means for moving it in theopposite direction against said yieldable means.

12. A new movement comprising a vibrating driving member, a vibratingdriven member and a movable member adapted to be interposed between thedriving member and the driven mem her for varying the movement of thedriven member, said movable member comprising a longitudinally movableslide having a tapered end for coaction with the driving member andbeing yieldably pressed in one direction, and means for moving it in theopposite direction against said yieldable means.

ODELLA RICH. THOMAS J. RICH, JR.

